Susanne Winnacker, author of THE OTHER LIFE and the forthcoming IMPOSTOR (more about that in a minute) had this to say about BY BLOOD:

"By Blood effortlessly transports you to the cobblestone streets and small pubs of Oxford, and Emma’s sassy voice pulls you right into the story with its hot British boys and touch of magic. A must read!” 

AHHHHHH!!!! Isn't that amazing? The warm and fuzzies, they will not stop!! :-DDD

I can't wait to share the new cover with you (keep an eye out next month!) but in the meantime, I highly recommend that you take a gander at IMPOSTOR, which comes out in TEN DAYS!! Here are some deets:

From Goodreads:

Can Tessa pose as Madison . . . and stop a killer before it’s too late? 

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again. 

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

~~

Sounds amazing, right? It is! I had the opportunity to read an early version of this and it had me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to pick up my "official" copy and read it again!

You can preorder your copy now here! :-) And add it to your Goodreads shelf here!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Oh, and if you haven't already, check out the giveaway that's still going on on Blkosiner's Book Blog...You could win a $10 Amazon gift card and copy of By Blood!

This week I'm helping to spread the word about an awesome new book by fellow Bookanista Christine Fonseca. I had the great opportunity to check this book out before its release, and I can say that it is truly a FANTASTIC book for teen girls. Honestly, I wish this had been around when I was in middle and high school - I think it would have helped me embrace my individuality and feel more confidence in myself. It's got great worksheets and helpful advice without being patronizing or "talking down". 

Anyway, here are more details!

Finding your unique voice in a noisy world can be hard—very hard. But not if you have a great guide! The Girl Guide: Finding Your Place in a Mixed-Up World is a must-read for girls in grades 6–8 as they enter the tumultuous world of adolescence. Packed with fun worksheets and quizzes, as well as stories from older girls and women, The Girl Guide covers everything a teenage girl needs to know on the journey toward her own identity. Proven strategies for dealing with stress management, confronting relational aggression, being safe online, navigating the changing mother-daughter relationship, and more make this the ultimate guide for any girl to get through the teen years and discover her unique point of view in the world.

Praise for The Girl Guide

"The Girl Guide is a game-changer and should be in every girl's backpack." ~ Ali Cross, author of the Desolation series

"The perfect remedy for a world obsessed with airbrushed perfection. A must read for every girl who has ever wondered what it means to be strong. Girls who can find beauty and strength within should be--and can be--the new normal, and The Girls' Guide is there to show the way." ~ Danyelle Leafty, author of The Fairy Godmother Dilemma series

"It's easy to understand, professional and relevant without being preachy, and really delves into the situations and emotions that girls out there are experiencing...I highly recommend this book." ~ Michelle McLean, author of Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers (Career Press 2011) and To Trust a Thief (Entangled Scandalous 2013)

"It's like an older sister and a mom rolled into one helpful book, all with the intent of helping me discover the best "me" there is. Definitely something I'd recommend to girls who are feeling lost...or just overwhelmed" ~ Shayna, High School Junior

"The Girl Guide is an easy-to-read, profound book that allows teenagers to understand it's the world that is different, not the teenager. I'm picky about the type of books that I introduce to my kids and I must say, this is one of the superior ones." - A Reader's Refuge

"For those parents, librarians, teachers and counselors who have teens that are struggling to find their own identity, or even that enjoy getting to know themselves better. Definitely a delicious pick!!" - Novel Nutritious

Availability

Publisher: Prufrock Press

ISBN: 1618210270

ISBN 13: 978-1618210272

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

THE BOOK DEPOSITORY

PRUFROCK PRESS

And now I'll turn it over to Christine, who has graciously contributed a guest post on Summer, Girl Guide Style!

The Girl Guide is all about finding yourself and your unique voice in the world. And what better time to start on that journey than summer! Summer is a great time for renewal. The days are long, the weather, perfect, and the vibe – magical. So, as you’re taking a break from school or work, catching up with friends and family, and venturing out for a special vacation, why not add a little “inner” journey to your adventures and spend part of the summer discovering the “real” you?

 Journeying inwards, like any trip, requires a map, some supplies, and an adventurous spirit. Fortunately, these things are easily acquired. A journal can become an ideal map to the inner you. Use it as you spend a little time each day reflecting on your dreams and hopes. Take stock of what you’ve accomplished so far, and plan where you’d like to go in the future. Then, once you have a good sense of your inner dreams and desires, make a plan for the future. Add new experiences, read different books, complete projects you’ve previous abandoned. In doing these things you can begin to cultivate your own authenticity.

 And don’t forget to pack an adventurous spirit as you journey inwards. Embrace the you that lives within. You may be surprised the “you” you can get to know this summer.

~~

You can read the first chapter HERE!

~~

About the Author

Critically acclaimed nonfiction and YA author Christine Fonseca believes that writing is a great way to explore humanity. Using her training and expertise as an educational psychologist, Ms. Fonseca is dedicated to helping children of all ages find their voice in the world. Her titles include Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students and 101 Success Secrets for Gifted Kids and delve into the often misunderstood world of giftedness and emotional intensity. May, 2013 will bring the release of the much awaited The Girl Guide: Finding Your Place in a Mixed-Up World, a book for girls in grades 6-9 that focuses on developing strong resiliency skills. In addition to her nonfiction titles, Ms. Fonseca is the author of several YA novels including Lacrimosa (the Requiem Series) and the critically acclaimed YA thriller, Transcend.  When she’s not writing or spending time with her family, she can be sipping too many skinny vanilla lattes at her favorite coffee house or playing around on Facebook and Twitter. For more information about Christine Fonseca or her books, visit her website – http://christinefonseca.com

Last but not least, as part of the book blitz, you have a chance to win some AH-MAZ-ING prizes, including your very own copy of The Girl Guide! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~

Now it's time to see what the other Bookanistas are up to this week!

Lenore Appelhans  is blown away by REBOOT by Amy Tintera

Carrie Harris adores BEYOND DINOCALYPSE by Chuck Wendig -- with giveaway!

Tracy Banghart  & Debra Driza join THE GIRL GUIDE by Christine Fonseca book blitz!

Corrine Jackson is stunned by BREAKING BEAUTIFUL by Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Nikki Katz  wonders at THE GRAVE WINNER by Lindsey Loucks

Gretchen McNeil talks TRUTH OR DARE by Jacqueline Green

Elana Johson admires INSOMNIA by Jenn Johannson

Tracey Neithercott celebrates THE YEAR OF SECRET ASSIGNMENTS by Jacqueline Moriarty

Katy Upperman fawns over FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK by Melina Marchetta

Rebecca Behrens is wowed by THE FIFTH WAVE by Rick Yancey

...and By Blood is being featured in a giveaway on Blkosiner's Book Blog! You could win a $10 Amazon giftcard and copy of By Blood. For more details, click here!

This week, for my Bookanista review, I want to talk about The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson. The funny thing is, I read this book quite a while ago and *thought* I'd already posted a review! Ha. That's what sleep deprivation will to ya, I guess. :-)

From Goodreads:

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago. 

Soon “Rippermania” takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her roommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities.

My Take

This was definitely my kind of book. I loved the atmospheric setting and general spookiness of the descriptions and writing. Unlike ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD (which I also loved) this ghost story doesn't feel like "horror" per se (though some horrific things happen!) - it's got that "telling ghost stories over the campfire" kind of vibe to it, which is awesome. Rory is a great main character, and I loved the ghost police. In general, the ghost world Maureen creates within the "real-life" world of London is fabulous. The whole concept works really well and I'm really looking forward to seeing where she takes it in book 2.

The intensity and suspense in this book is off the charts and I was truly freaked out by the bad guy. The Jack the Ripper element only increased the tension and fascination. I loved how Maureen wove the real Ripper details with her own story and characters; it added a richness and spookiness to the story, for sure.

Overall, this was a great read and wonderfully written. If you like spooky ghost stories, or creepy thrillers, this book is for you!

~~

Check out what the rest of the Bookanistas are reading this week!

Christine Fonseca  marvels at MILA 2.0 by Debra Driza – with giveaway!

Corrine Jackson is blown away by BRUISED by Sarah Skilton

Elana Johson  buzzes about STUNG by Bethany Wiggins

Stasia Ward Kehoe fawns over THE FIFTH WAVE by Rick Yancey

Jessica Love raves about THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING by Ashley Elton

Shannon Messenger  shares an exclusive excerpt from INSOMNIA

Lenore Appelhans celebrates 17 AND GONE by Nova Ren Suma

I'm still working on my frosting technique. I can't seem to make it even and properly swirly. As an added touch to these, I filled some with lemon curd and others with blueberry jam. The lemon curd in particular worked really well with the light almond flavor of the cupcakes.

For my other cupcake selection, I decided to go chocolatey. SUPER chocolatey. I've made the cake version of these Mississippi Mud Cupcakes before with good results and the cupcakes were equally delicious. They're dense and fudgy, almost like brownies, and the topping gives the cupcake a great texture and sweetness.

The biggest trick was getting the marshmallows to stay on the top of the rounded cupcakes prior to baking. But they turned out very well!

Here's the recipe, courtesy of Southern Living:

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup butter
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 cups sugar 
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 4 large eggs 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 (10.5-oz.) bag miniature marshmallows
• Chocolate Frosting (see recipe below)

Preparation

1. Place pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet.
2. Bake at 350° for 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted.
3. Microwave 1 cup butter and semisweet chocolate in a large microwave-safe glass bowl at HIGH 1 minute or until melted and smooth, stirring every 30 seconds.
4. Whisk sugar and next 5 ingredients into chocolate mixture. Spoon batter evenly into 24 paper-lined muffin cups.
5. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until puffed. Sprinkle evenly with 2 cups miniature marshmallows, and bake 5 more minutes or until golden. Remove from oven, and cool cupcakes in muffin pans 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pans, and place on wire rack. Drizzle warm cakes evenly with 1 1/4 cups Chocolate Frosting, and sprinkle with toasted pecans. Reserve remaining 3/4 cup frosting for another use.

I doubled the recipe and it made like 36 cupcakes. It was ridiculous! But super tasty. :-) And I kept the icing recipe the same and STILL had a ton left over. Will use it on ice cream or maybe some fresh fruit. Here's that recipe (also from Southern Living):

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/3 cup milk 
• 1 (16-oz.) package powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

Preparation

1. Stir together first 3 ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted. Cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes or until slightly thickened; remove from heat. Beat in powdered sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until smooth.

The cupcakes were a hit, and Ollie was a little angel for the baptism, despite cutting tooth #2 the same day! Here he is with MAJOR HOTSAUCE, a little oily from the service (which his great-grandpa performed. It was so special!). :-)

This week I read LACRIMOSA, by the fabulous Christine Fonseca, another Bookanista. 

From Goodreads:

It's been three thousand years since the fall of Azzaziel and the rebirth of evil; three thousand years since the Sentinal Order, an elite group of warrior angels, returned to Celestium. Their job-rid Earth of the dark creatures, the UnHoly. And with luck, end Azza's rule. As if casting out demons isn't hard enough, five-hundred-year-old Nesy has to masquerade as a teenage girl to do it. Nesy is the best of the Sentinals. She never makes mistakes, never hesitates, never gets emotionally involved. Until she meets Aydan. He is evil incarnate; a fallen angel that feeds off the souls of others. Everything Nesy is supposed to hate. But she can't, because he's also the love of her former life as a human girl-a life that ended too soon, tying her to emotions she was never supposed to feel. Now Nesy must choose between doing her duty-damning Aydan to the fiery depths of hell-or saving him, and condemning herself. And her choice may cost her, and Celestium, far more than anyone realizes. How much will she sacrifice for love?

My Take

I haven't read an angel book in a loooong time, so this was really fun! Okay, actually I'm not sure "fun" is exactly the word. Let's say...intense. This book was dark, suspenseful, and not at all what I expected. Gritty, dramatic...you get the idea. :-)

Ostensibly, the characters are in high school, but that element takes a backseat to their angelic counterparts, which I appreciated. The story, at its heart, is about this enduring love between Aydan and Nesy....and man, is it epic. I thought Christine did a great job raising the stakes for these characters...to say their love is star-crossed is an understatement. After all - an angel and a demon? 

The characterization of both Aydan and Nesy was great...I really got a sense for both their personalities and their internal conflicts. Each one struggles to reconcile their feelings with who they are and the limitations that come along with that. 

This story is filled with twists and turns. I really didn't expect it to end the way it did...and I'll just say this...I was VERY concerned for our characters. I emotionally invested in their struggle and liked the way their journey wasn't sugar-coated. There were very real, insurmountable odds against Aydan and Nesy...and they're not just easily defeated in the name of true love. These characters fight with all they have...and their story isn't guaranteed a happy ending.

I'm looking forward to reading more from Christine...and visiting again this intense, thrill-ride of a world she's created in Libera Me!

~~

Check out what the other Bookanistas are raving about this week! 

Katy Upperman  ponders LOVE AND OTHER PERISHABLE ITEMS by Laura Buzo

Kimberly Sabatini wonders at WHEN YOU WERE HERE by Daisy Whitney

Elana Johson  falls for THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green

Tracy Banghart  loves LACRIMOSA by Christine Fonseca

Corrine Jackson adores the ARCADIA BELL series by Jenn Bennett

Rebecca Behrens delves into CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein

Lenore Appelhans raves about THE RULES by Stacey Kade

Stasia Ward Kehoe wraps up National Poetry Month with THE POETRY TEACHER’S BOOK OF LISTS by Sylvia Vardell

Christine Fonseca  celebrates UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi

Jessica Love hails THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE by Jennifer E. Smith

Shannon Messenger  discusses some recent reads

Something else that makes me happy? Bookanista reviews!! Not only are there some great reviews for you this week, but we're also welcoming new members! Check out their bios at www.thebookanistas.com.

Jessica Love welcomes our FIVE NEW BOOKANISTAS!
Carrie Harris croons about THE COLLECTOR by Victoria Scott
Corrine Jackson adores CONFESSIONS OF AN ANGRY GIRL by Louise Rozett
Shelli Johannes-Wells hails HYSTERIA by Megan Miranda
Stasia Ward Kehoe celebrates YALSA’s TEEN LIT DAY
Nikki Katz raves about ROOTLESS by Chris Howard
Gretchen McNeil adores UNREMEMBERED by Jessica Brody
Rebecca Behrens andTracey Neithercott share why they’re excited to be newbie Bookanistas

And last, but not least, I've got some exciting BY BLOOD news.

This summer BY BLOOD will be coming to you in paperback...with a fancy new cover!! In addition, its predecessor and companion novel, MOON CHILD, will also be releasing in ebook and paperback. Hooray!! Check back here for blurbs and teasers from MOON CHILD, cover reveals, and lots of other fun stuff. In the meantime, to celebrate, BY BLOOD is on sale for 99 cents now through Sunday! Check it out for Amazon and Nook...or add it to your Goodreads shelf! (It's gotten some great new reviews!)

Hope y'all have a fabulous weekend...happy reading!

I decided to go see THE HOST because I'd read and loved the book...and it wasn't a movie I thought MAJOR HOTSAUCE would be particularly sad to miss. 

First, I'll say this: I LOVED loved this book. While everyone has been freaking out about TWILIGHT, my favorite Stephenie Meyer story BY FAR is THE HOST. I've read this book several times, and it's a testament to Stephenie's skill at building tension that each time, I feel the urge to read it just as quickly, desperate to see how things turn out (even though I already know!). For those who haven't read it or seen the movie, here's a description (from Goodreads):

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind.

As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.

Featuring one of the most unusual love triangles in literature, THE HOST is a riveting and unforgettable novel about the persistence of love and the essence of what it means to be human.

The Book

One of the major things I hated in Twilight - how passive and self-sacrificing Bella Swan was - worked fabulously in The Host. After all, our main character isn't human! It's okay that she puts everyone above herself and doesn't ever stick up for herself - she's an alien, and that's how her race does things! Melanie, in contrast, is a fighter, hot-headed and impulsive, which I loved.

I also felt that the tension in this book was off the charts. I think Stephenie has this incredible way of sticking you in her characters' heads...say what you want about her writing, but you are IMMERSED when it comes to her main characters. It's one of the reasons I think the Twilight movies don't work as well, actually...because when reading the books, you are in Bella's head, and IN Bella's head everything makes sense. Outside, looking in...not so much. At least not for me. 

Anyway, The Host as a book was fast-paced, intense and just plain interesting. Thinking about this alien race taking over human bodies - the ethics, the ways in which the main character, Wanderer, learns to see things in a new way - it all raised fascinating questions in my mind. And I really emotionally invested in Wanderer...I bought into her emotional journey entirely.

The Movie

When I originally heard they were making a movie of The Host, I was horrified. I couldn't imagine how they'd make it work...after all, the two main characters in the book share the same body! So much of the interaction is within a character's head...how could that possibly translate well to the big screen?

(Full disclosure: I missed the first 5 minutes or so of the movie, so I don't know how they established the world, etc.) 

I have to say....my concerns kind of panned out. :-( Melanie Stryder had much less of a presence on screen than I had felt in the book. I never fully connected emotionally with her and her plight in the movie, and I kept thinking that if I hadn't read the book already, even more of the emotional punch would have been lost.

I still enjoyed the movie...in particular the scenery was gorgeous, and I felt all the actors were fantastic. They made the most of the material and were very much in line with how I'd imagined the characters in my head. I particularly loved William Hurt as Uncle Jeb, and the actor who played Jared. (Yum!)

I was disappointed that the minor characters didn't have more to do - they were really important to the fabric of the story in the book and there just didn't seem to be enough time/room to focus on them in the movie.

And one of the most poignant moments in the entire book, something that really resonated for me, wasn't in the movie either, which I found disappointing (not going to spoil it for anyone, but it was near the end and a small detail I felt they had more than enough room to add to the movie).

Finally, I worry that anyone seeing the movie who HASN'T read the book is going to have trouble "getting" it. Those of you who've seen it without reading the book...was this the case for you? 

~~

Lots of awesome Bookanista action this week! Check it out!

Corrine Jackson is swept away by SUCH A RUSH

Christine Fonseca  interviews THE LIES THAT BIND authors Lisa & Laura Roecker

Elana Johson  celebrates THE SELECTION by Kiera Cass

Stasia Ward Kehoe parties with the Academy of American Poets on POEM IN YOUR POCKET DAY

Jessica Love is wowed by WHERE THINGS COME BACK by John Corey Whaley

Tracy Banghart  delves into THE HOST (book & movie) by Stephenie Meyer

Katy Upperman  discusses  Erica Lorraine Scheidt’s USE S FOR BOYS

First, a description:

"Lorelei sees things other girls can't see. She knows about the demons and monsters. She's met them. Up close. And it's cost her everything.

Torn between protecting her siblings and avenging her mother's death, Lorelei must decide which path she will take. And no matter what she chooses, her decision will influence more than just her future in this companion short story to the Requiem Series."

And here's the link to add it to your Goodreads TBR shelf! 

And, finally....

The gorgeous cover!!! :-)

This week I'm excited to talk about Corrine Jackson's TOUCHED.

From Goodreads:

Remy O’Malley heals people with touch—but every injury she cures becomes her own. Living in a household with an abusive stepfather, she has healed untold numbers of broken bones, burns,and bruises. And then one night her stepfather goes too far.

Being sent to live with her estranged father offers a clean start and she is eager to take it. Enter Asher Blackwell. Once a Protector of Healers, Asher sacrificed his senses to become immortal. Only by killing a Healer can a Protector recover their human senses. Falling in love is against the rules between these two enemies. Because Remy has the power to make Protectors human again, and when they find out, they’ll be coming for her—if Asher doesn’t kill her first.

My Take

At the beginning, I admit I was a little thrown off by how quickly things happened. By the end of the first chapter, Remy's life has been established one way, has drastically changed, AND she meets Asher. Phew! But I actually LIKED this approach, after I got my bearings, because it really got the story moving.

I *love* the premise of this book, that Remy can heal people but takes their injuries on herself...it gives her such an interesting perspective...a superhero who feels a tremendous amount of pain. She is both tough and vulnerable, and I think Corrine did a fantastic job developing her character. By the end of the book I was fully invested in Remy and sad that I have to wait months until I can visit with her again. 

I liked that the paranormal element is simple and straight-forward...Protectors, Healers, got it. The story didn't get bogged down with a ton of mythology...there was just enough explanation to give the rules and the stakes, and then the story ran with it. And it did indeed run! The pacing of this book was fantastic...as I mentioned in my last post, I have a teething baby at home, and I *still* found time to read and enjoy this story because I just had to know what happened. In particular, the last third had me absolutely on the edge of my seat...I was so scared for Remy and desperate to find out what was going on...and if things would be okay for these characters I'd come to love!

Not Your Average Twilight

The romance, at first blush, is a little Twilight-y. But only on the most basic level. In fact, the relationship between Remy and Asher is what I wish Edward and Bella could have had. Remy is a strong, take charge kind of chick, and she doesn't put up with Asher's overprotectiveness. Because she can ACTUALLY TAKE CARE OF HERSELF. That simple fact was such a breath of fresh air for me. I *loved* their interactions and how Remy deals with this new person in her life and the realization that she has feelings for him.

I also loved how Remy interacted with her sister and father...there was such poignancy there. Remy's family situation and the grittiness of her life really added to the emotional punch of the story for me. Confession: I'm not actually a huge fan of paranormal romance, but this book had me completely hooked. I can't WAIT for the second book in the series!!

~~

Check out what the other Bookanistas are excited about this week!

Katy Upperman  adores IMPOSSIBLE by Nancy Werlin

Corrine Jackson is wowed by WAIT FOR YOU

Stasia Ward Kehoe delves into THE RITHMATIST by Brandon Sanderson

But never fear! Lots of other Bookanistas are spotlighting awesome books today! Check it out... 

Christine Fonseca  marvels at MIND GAMES by Kiersten White

Shelli Johannes-Wells  explores ESSENCE by Kimberly Derting

Elana Johson  is gaga for GRAVE MERCY by Robin LaFever

Stasia Ward Kehoe discusses THE DIFFERENT GIRL by Gordon Dahlquist

Jessica Love delves into BITTERSWEET by Sarah Ockler

Katy Upperman  wonders at IF I LIE by Corrine Jackson

Nikki Katz  celebrates THE SEA OF TRANQUILITY by Katja Millay